A 24-year-old Norwegian performer singing about a Russian dog will represent Ireland in this year’s Eurovision final.
Emmy Kristine Guttulsrud Kristianse, who uses Emmy as her stage name, won the Irish Eurosong final which took place on The Late Late Show.
Her song Laika Party, about the dog who in 1957 became the first living creature to voyage into space, won both the overseas jury and public vote. She qualifies for Ireland because the song was cowritten by the Kilbeggan-based singer-songwriter Larissa Tormey.
She met Emmy at a songwriting camp in Norway where they composed the track with three other writers.
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The synth-pop song is perfect Eurovision material and the Irish delegation will hope that it will be a second year in a row that Ireland will qualify for the Eurovision final following Bambie Thug, who finished sixth with Doomsday Blues last year.
“I’m just in shock. thank you so, so much,” Emmy said after the result was announced. “I hope I will make you proud.”
The Eurovision final takes place in Basel, Switzerland, on Saturday night, May 17th. Qualifying semi-finals will take place on the Tuesday and Thursday nights that week.
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